The Indochina Rail Tourist Service Company plans to restore the operation of steam trains travelling between the central city of Danang and Hue to serve tourists.

A steam locomotive in Vietnam. The old trains are set to resume their route between Danang and Hue. — Photo courtesy Transport Newspaper

The company said the restoration of the defunct steam train line has been prepared with an investment of VNĐ81 billion (US$3.6 million).

As planned, three steam locomotives and 10 carriages have been repaired and decorated, while logistics services, stations, bridges and coal and water supplying systems will be restored at the stations of Kim Lien in Danang and Lang Co in Thua Thien-Hue Province.

According to the Hue tourist company, it has operated a carriage since 2016 for tourists travelling from Hue to Danang before exploring Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary in Quảng Nam by coach.

Steam trains stopped operating in Vietnam from the 1990s, replaced by diesel-driven locomotives.

Diesel-operated north-south trains take two hours and 30 minutes to complete the 100km section from Hue to Danang.

Danang plans to move its railway station from the city’s centre to suburban Lien Chieu District in 2022.